According to USA Today, an Iraqi mother and her seven children now have a new house. It’s part of a promise made to her husband who was killed in Iraq after he helped American soldiers.
Her husband, Majid Ali, had invited soldiers from the North Dakota National Guard into his home for supper in north-central Iraq in 2004. During that visit, he gave them critical information about roadside explosives planted by Iraqi insurgents. The information proved to save many lives.
The soldiers had tried to protect Ali’s identity later in intelligent reports by referring to him only as “Mr. M,” and warned him to be careful. He only smiled away the warnings.
Tragically, Ali was pulled from his truck and shot 30 times in the legs, head, chest and arms as his 11-year-old son was forced to watch.
The only thing Ali had asked of the soldiers was that if something were to happen to him, “Please take care of my family.”
That promise was kept and finished this past weekend.
A newly-built Habitat for Humanity was given to Mrs. Ali and her seven children in Fargo.
“This family here saved American lives,” Sgt. 1st Class Shayne Beckert reportedly said. “If it hadn’t been for their father, there would have been more parents in North Dakota with hurt in their hearts.”
Roadside bombs killed four members of the North Dakota National Guard’s 141st Engineer Combat Battalion. Members of the unit were on hand three years ago to greet Mrs. Ali and her children when they first arrived in Fargo.
We hear a lot about the negative aspects attached to the Iraq War and very little about the good that takes place between our troops and the Iraqi people. It’s always refreshing to see such evidence.
Thanks, USA Today!
